Becta, the Government’s agency for technology in education, and the NEN (National Education Network) are launching the first ever nationwide online schools quiz, which will see thousands of primary school children up and down the country compete simultaneously in this pioneering, interactive competition.
Schools entering the Next Generation Learning National Schools Quiz, which will take place on Friday 12th March, could win up to £3,000 worth of ICT equipment or training for their school, plus there are fantastic spot prizes for successful individuals and teams who take part.
The quiz will run exclusively online, via the NEN, covering curriculum areas, including history, science, citizenship, numeracy and literacy. Questions will be provided by a series of high profile national partners who include the Historic Royal Palaces, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Guide Dogs for the Blind and the relevant subject associations.
The nationwide quiz is aimed at Key Stage 2 and open to pupils aged eight and nine years old. Schools can sign up individual pupils or teams by registering now at http://nsq.e2bn.org/regform/.
Each partner has compiled a series of fun and challenging tests which will pit pupils from across the UK against one another so they can see, in real time, which is the brainiest school in Britain. Every pupil will immediately be awarded gold, silver or bronze certificates, depending on their performance, with one school awarded the star prize of £3,000 worth of ICT equipment. As further incentive, every school signing up to take part in the Next Generation Learning National Schools Quiz will automatically achieve level 1 of the Next Generation Learning Charter, a charter established by Becta stating its public commitment to embrace technology in learning.
Stephen Crowne, Chief Executive of Becta, said: “We are delighted to launch the first ever online National Schools Quiz and hope to see thousands of pupils across the country taking part in this groundbreaking initiative. Becta believes that integrating technology across the entire curriculum is essential to making lessons and learning more enjoyable and rewarding and this is just one great example of how technology can be used to inspire learners.” “We have got some fantastic partners onboard who have developed a really compelling quiz so if you think your school has what it takes to win then visit www.nextgenerationlearning.org.uk/nsq and pledge your commitment to Next Generation Learning.”
Karen Davies, Head of Museums’ Learning Resources at the Science Museum, said: “At the Science Museum in London we are known for our innovative, ‘hands on, minds on’ approach to learning. We are pleased to support Becta in experimenting with new ways of engaging young people and exploring the potential of new technologies.”